The ambiguous atmosphere brought on by "I missed you" didn't last for more than a few seconds before Lin Qingye immediately heard a blood-curdling scream, like a pig being slaughtered, from the other end of the line. "Aoww!"

It was a trembling, tearful-sounding male voice.

He immediately knitted his brows. "Ah Nan?"

Unfortunately, Xu Zhinan had no time to answer him.

"Sorry, sorry!" Xu Zhinan said hurriedly, immediately lowering her head to check if the tattoo ink had been messed up.

That sentence from Lin Qingye had made her daze out for a moment, and her hand had paused along with her thoughts, landing two needle pricks in the same spot. Fortunately, it was on the red part of the crane's head. The deepening of the color actually made it look more vivid and lifelike.

Xu Zhenfan's howl wasn't just because of that one mistake with the needle.

When it comes to tattoos, everyone's pain perception is different. Some people don't even bat an eye, while others weep and wail.

Xu Zhinan hadn't expected Xu Zhenfan to be the latter, especially since this was just being tattooed on his arm, which wasn't a particularly painful area.

Just five minutes into the tattoo session, he had started tearing up involuntarily, and then he began to wail.

It was hard to imagine the tragic state he must have been in for the other large tattoos on his body.

"I'm tellin' ya, little sister Ah Nan! You gotta take it easy! My skin might be tough, but it can't handle this kind of abuse!!" Xu Zhenfan said while crying.

His skin was a healthy wheat color, but now, under Xu Zhinan's tattoo needle, his eyes were bloodshot and the area around them was moist, which was very incongruous with his face and build.

Xu Zhinan glanced at him, pulled out a tissue, and handed it to him, apologizing again. "Sorry."

Xu Zhenfan waved his hand. "It's fine, it's fine. You answer your phone first, let me catch my breath."

"Okay."

Xu Zhinan took off her gloves and walked to the other side to pick up the call. "Brother Qingye, I have a client here. I was just tattooing him."

"Is it almost done?"

"Almost."

"Should I come over to your place?"

"Huh? I still have a client in the shop. Are you at the bar? I'll come find you when I'm done." Her voice was very obedient.

"No, I'm at the entrance of Zhouyu Hotel on Qingfeng Road."

Xu Zhinan paused. "Zhouyu Hotel?"

He laughed. "Guan Chi is getting married, the wedding's there. What are you thinking?"

Her face burned. She bit her lip and changed the subject. "How did you do on the exam today?"

"If you'd asked any later, the results would have been out already," Lin Qingye teased. "It was alright. Thanks, Teacher Xu."

"...Then I'll get back to work."

After hanging up, Xu Zhenfan still hadn't recovered. Xu Zhinan put on a new pair of gloves and pulled his arm over, but unfortunately, Xu Zhenfan was uncooperative, still trying hard to pull it back.

Xu Zhinan looked up at him. "Don't be scared."

Xu Zhenfan: "..."

'Even though I really am scared, you don't have to say it out loud, okay!'

'I'm a man, for goodness' sake!!'

Xu Zhenfan steeled himself, resigned to his fate, and stopped struggling.

Xu Zhinan turned the tattoo machine back on to do the final touch-ups. The needle once again injected ink into the dermis layer of the skin.

Xu Zhenfan let out a howl and his whole body jolted. "Little sister! You're too ruthless!!! Can't we be a little gentler!!!"

Ten minutes later, the work was done.

While reminding him of the aftercare instructions for the tattoo, Xu Zhinan threw the wads of tissue stained with his tears from the workstation into the trash can.

"I'm sorry about what happened just now." Xu Zhinan still felt a little bad. "How about I give you a discount?"

"No need! No need!!"

He slapped the table with each "no need." After seeing the result of the tattoo, he was very satisfied and gave her a thumbs-up. "No wonder my friend recommended you so highly. The tattoo is so good. To be honest, those artists who specialize in green dragons and white tigers really can't do this type of tattoo well. Next time I want a tattoo, I'll come find you again!"

Tattoos are addictive.

Just a moment ago, he was a sniveling, teary mess who didn't even dare to extend his arm, and now he was already thinking about his next tattoo.

Xu Zhinan accepted the payment. "Okay."

"Alright, then you should get off work soon." Xu Zhenfan had overheard some of her phone call. "Otherwise, your boyfriend will get impatient."

Xu Zhinan froze for a moment, but Xu Zhenfan had already waved his arm and left.

Qingfeng Road was on the next street, only a few minutes' walk away.

She saw Lin Qingye standing there from a distance.

Although he hadn't officially entered the entertainment industry, the show's promotional warm-up had already begun. Besides, this place wasn't far from the bar. To prevent being recognized, he was wearing a mask.

Xu Zhinan walked to the crosswalk and waited for the green light.

Then she saw a girl walk up to Lin Qingye. She recognized her as Ji Yan, the bassist of the Black Locust Band.

Martin boots, a hip-hugging skirt, and the hem of her black short-sleeved shirt tied at her waist, outlining her narrow figure.

The distance was too great; she could only see Ji Yan's mouth open as she said something to Lin Qingye.

Perhaps not hearing clearly, Lin Qingye bent down slightly, leaning his ear closer.

Xu Zhinan lowered her gaze and blinked very slowly.

The red light turned green, and the cars stopped before the white line. She walked across the crosswalk.

Lin Qingye, who was listening to Ji Yan, caught sight of her from the corner of his eye and gradually straightened up.

Ji Yan: "Leader, you've been drinking, how will you get back? Why don't you come with me and Shi Si?"

Lin Qingye raised an eyebrow and lifted his chin. "My ride's here."

Ji Yan followed his gaze and her eyes met Xu Zhinan's. She paused, gave a slight nod as a greeting, and then didn't bother them further, turning to leave with Shi Si.

Xu Zhinan walked to his side. "Brother Qingye."

He gave a faint hum of acknowledgment. He raised his hand to ruffle her hair, but she turned her head to avoid it. He simply retracted his hand and tilted her chin up. "What, unhappy?"

"I'm not unhappy." Xu Zhinan scratched her hair. "I'm sweaty, and I haven't washed my hair. Did you drink?"

Her voice was muffled, her denial not very convincing.

Lin Qingye leaned against the wall. This area wasn't illuminated by the streetlights, so the lighting was dim. With his hands in his pockets, his gaze landed lightly on her.

After looking for a while, he suddenly bent down and leaned in close.

Xu Zhinan's heart suddenly tightened. The young man was right in front of her, his bangs hanging over his forehead. His eyes were cold, yet they held a hint of mischievous teasing, close yet distant.

Then he pulled down his mask and kissed her.

Her lips and tongue were gently licked, and the taste of alcohol was transferred over.

A moment later, he finally pulled back a little, his voice barely audible. "Did you taste it?"

Xu Zhinan's mind was adrift. She licked her moist lips. "What?"

"The alcohol."

Only then did she remember her earlier question: Did you drink?

That kiss was his answer.

Xu Zhinan's ears, hidden by her hair, began to burn. It was as if the alcohol in her mouth had caught fire. Her throat felt dry. She swallowed hard and answered obediently, "I tasted it."

He pulled his mask back up and pinched her cheek. "Smile."

"Huh?"

She didn't understand, but as the word left her mouth, her lips had already unconsciously curled up according to his wish. The corners of her eyes drooped slightly into crescent moons, blooming into a smile.

Lin Qingye looked at her for two seconds. "You're pretty easy to please."

Because he had been drinking, he couldn't drive. Lin Qingye called for a designated driver.

The driver was a man who looked to be in his thirties. Lin Qingye swept his bangs up, pulled down his cap, and tossed the car keys to the driver.

"Whoa, a Porsche. This is my first time driving a Porsche," the driver said as he caught the keys and glanced at them, asking with a smile, "Where are you two headed?"

"Mingqi Apartment."

A luxury car to match a high-end apartment complex.

The driver glanced at the two of them, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, and sighed with envy in his heart.

Once in the car, Xu Zhinan and Lin Qingye sat in the back.

Ah Nan didn't dare to speak much the whole way. Even though he was wearing a hat and a mask, she was still afraid that as soon as Lin Qingye spoke, someone would recognize his voice.

Lin Qingye, on the other hand, was at ease. He sat next to her, eyes half-closed, holding her hand and playing with it on his thigh.

Usually, the people who recognized him were young women. There was no need to worry about being recognized by someone like this driver. Besides, for now, he was just the lead singer of an award-winning underground band.

"Tired?" Lin Qingye asked.

"What?"

He squeezed her shoulder. "Didn't you have a client in the shop just now?"

"It's fine. His design was quite detailed, so it just took a bit longer."

"Was he the one who sounded like a pig being slaughtered on the phone?"

Recalling the scene from earlier, Xu Zhinan couldn't help but want to laugh. Her lips curled up. "Yeah, he's probably very scared of pain."

"A guy, screaming like that over a tattoo." His tone was somewhat disdainful.

"It depends on the person. Some people have a high sensitivity to pain, so they're like that." Xu Zhinan's hand was held by him, so she took the opportunity to squeeze his palm and joked, "Maybe you're also very sensitive to this kind of pain. You never know until you try."

She had seen couples come in together where the girl felt nothing the whole time, while the guy was in so much pain he was grimacing.

Lin Qingye let out a soft scoff and said casually, "Then I'll try it next time."

The car arrived downstairs at Mingqi Apartment, and they entered the elevator.

Lin Qingye took off his mask and hat, casually ran a hand through his hair, and looked up at the ascending floor numbers.

The line of his upturned jaw was smooth and sharp, his Adam's apple prominent. His features were distinct, as if chiseled by a master sculptor.

Only now did Xu Zhinan start to feel a little nervous.

She had come back to the apartment with Lin Qingye a few times before and knew what would happen next.

But no matter how many times it had happened, she still couldn't get used to such things without her face flushing and her heart racing.

The elevator dinged, and Xu Zhinan followed him out.

The voice-activated sensor light in the hallway seemed to be broken and didn't turn on. Xu Zhinan turned on her phone's built-in flashlight to light the way as Lin Qingye unlocked the door.

He didn't immediately turn on the light.

Xu Zhinan used the light from her phone to change into indoor slippers.

She was wearing a pair of sandals today. Her toes were pretty and rounded, her feet slender, and her light pink toenails were neatly trimmed.

Lin Qingye's gaze swept over them before nonchalantly moving to her face. He reached down and clasped her wrist.

She had just managed an "Hm?" before he pressed her against the wall, pinning her wrists, and then lowered his head to seal her lips.

The kiss on the street earlier had been just a light touch, but this one carried his innate, intense oppressiveness.

"Ah Nan," he whispered against her lips, his voice very hoarse. "Last time you were throwing a tantrum at me, making me miss you this much."

In a daze, Xu Zhinan once again remembered what he had said on the phone earlier: "I missed you."

'Did he miss her, or did he miss this?'

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, and the wind rustled the curtains in the bedroom.

Lin Qingye walked out wearing a white bathrobe. Xu Zhinan had already finished her shower and was now lying in his bed, fast asleep. Half of her face was hidden in the covers, her brows still slightly furrowed, looking as if she wasn't sleeping very peacefully.

Lin Qingye paced over, closed the window. The phone on the TV stand vibrated. The caller ID was Lin Guancheng.

It was his father.

Lin Qingye picked up the phone and walked out to the living room to answer it.

He didn't speak. He sat down on the sofa, grabbed the cigarette case from the coffee table, pulled one out, and held it between his teeth. He lit it, his cheeks hollowing slightly before he exhaled a cloud of smoke.

Lin Guancheng could hear it, and his tone wasn't good. "Smoking again?"

"What's up?"

"I heard from Wang Qi that you're going to participate in one of his shows?"

Wang Qi was the producer of "Here for the Song," and also a family friend of the Lin family.

"Yeah."

"Why did you never tell me?" Lin Guancheng was dissatisfied.

Lin Qingye found it amusing, the cigarette bobbing in his mouth. "Is it any of your business?"

There were two seconds of silence. Lin Guancheng seemed to be suppressing his anger, but it was no use.

"Lin Qingye!" he said, his voice laced with fire. "Don't you fucking use that tone with me. Look what a mess your rotten temper has made of this family!"

He maintained his joking, flippant manner. "Well then, CEO Lin, what advice do you have for me?"

"You're so capable. Don't come begging me for help when you run into trouble in the future!"

Lin Qingye smiled, hung up the phone directly, and tossed it onto the sofa, where it bounced once.

Unfortunately, the heavens wouldn't grant him any peace. The phone rang again. This time it wasn't his, but Xu Zhinan's phone in the bedroom.

He didn't go in immediately. Xu Zhinan was probably truly exhausted and too sleepy to be woken by the ringing. The ringing had just stopped when it started up again a moment later.

So, he extinguished his cigarette and went back into the bedroom.

Xu Zhinan was still in the same sleeping position, looking like she was in a deep sleep.

Lin Qingye picked up her phone. The caller ID was "Xixi," a girl's name.

The second round of ringing stopped, and then, the third round began.

Lin Qingye clicked his tongue, swiped to answer, and put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

The author has something to say:

Lin Qingye: Hello, I'm Xu Zhinan's husband. (Alright, I know all you Ah Nan's protective mothers are about to start cursing me out.)